Reusse: Don't look far for next Gophers coach, give Claeys a chance

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BleedGopher

BleedGopher

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per Pat:

Claeys was fantastic when Kill’s seizures knocked him out of action briefly and then moved him to the press box in 2013. He has been Kill’s right hand, a strong recruiter and has made defense the strength of this program’s improvement.

The clichéd angle is that the Gophers will risk losing a strong recruiting class if they go outside to find a head coach. That was also the pitch from Gutekunst’s boosters three decades ago.

That’s not why I’m saying give the job to him. I’m saying it because I don’t think that Minnesota could hire a better coach and leader of the program than Claeys.

I’d much rather have him, a coach who already has beaten Nebraska and Michigan in the same season, than the latest guy to win a bunch of games at Memphis or Temple.

Claeys is worth a shot for a couple of years to see if he can build on the Kill foundation. After the Nebraska episode earlier this month, it’s hard to call Claeys a defensive savant, but when you remember the defense played by Brewster’s and Mason’s last several teams, Claeys has been close to that.

I gave the title “Country Jer’’ to Kill out of fondness for that Kansas twang and ability to pronounce the word ‘‘tour’’ the same way as me: ‘‘tuurr.’’

The Gophers are being advised here to stick with that same background and promptly take away the interim title for Claeys. I even have the nickname, stolen though it is, for the new coach:

“Big Country.’’

http://www.startribune.com/don-t-look-far-for-next-gophers-coach-give-claeys-a-chance/338154381/

Go Gophers!!
 

I would give the present coaching staff all of next year, too, so that the administration has plenty of time to assess them and to look over a wider field of candidates nationally. Those of us who have been following the Gophers for a half century or so have seen too many coaching changes, some of them too quickly done. Warmath, Stoll and Mason should not have been fired in the manner they were. Claeys was impressive in his BTN presser today - let's see what he can do beyond the murderer's row of the rest of this season.
 

Great Plains Gopher said:
I would give the present coaching staff all of next year, too, so that the administration has plenty of time to assess them and to look over a wider field of candidates nationally. Those of us who have been following the Gophers for a half century or so have seen too many coaching changes, some of them too quickly done. Warmath, Stoll and Mason should not have been fired in the manner they were. Claeys was impressive in his BTN presser today - let's see what he can do beyond the murderer's row of the rest of this season.
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Well yeah it has to be next year too. Maybe a contract for a few years (easy enough to get out of for everyone) to shore up coaches and etc.

Can't judge Claeys just on the next series of brutal games... right after Jerry drops the news.
 

Are the Reusse bashers up to the considerable challenge of finding something to get upset about in this article?
 

I think it's huge to allow 1-2 more year with this staff and buy time for a AD decision. Facilities, not football should be #1 for current/new AD. I want an AD to learn MN landscape before making a major hire.


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MrC said:
Are the Reusse bashers up to the considerable challenge of finding something to get upset about in this article?
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He must of been feeling guilty. For once he is not bashing the gophers.

Go Gophers
 

MrC said:
Are the Reusse bashers up to the considerable challenge of finding something to get upset about in this article?
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This article such a hatchet job...... Can't Reusse write anything positive? In all seriousness though, I agree with Pat. This Gophers athletic department is currently a mess. I think the best thing for the program right now would be stability. If you hire Claeys you are providing stability for the football program. That way you can take your time on the AD search and find the right candidate. If Kill doesn't retire, the new AD wouldn't have had the chance to name a new football coach anyway. Give Claeys a fair contract after the season and let him hit the ground running.
 

@1500ESPN_Reusse: Headed to bed right now w/ a clear conscience. @jrossow @SouhanStrib


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BleedGopher said:
per Pat:

That’s not why I’m saying give the job to him. I’m saying it because I don’t think that Minnesota could hire a better coach and leader of the program than Claeys.

I’d much rather have him, a coach who already has beaten Nebraska and Michigan in the same season, than the latest guy to win a bunch of games at Memphis or Temple.

Go Gophers!!
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Pat has never been more correct than these two assessments. Well done
 



MrC said:
Are the Reusse bashers up to the considerable challenge of finding something to get upset about in this article?
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"...the latest guy to win a bunch of games at Memphis or Temple."

Uhm...16th ranked Memphis and 21st ranked Temple? Winning a bunch of games at Memphis or Temple? Yeah...I'd take that.
 

I would give Claeys the job - to give us the best chance of keeping the current recruiting class and as much continuity with Kill's path as possible. However, I do wonder a little about the fact he has never been a HC before. As Glenn Mason stated, "tough to cut your teeth at a B1G school." Again, I hope he gets it, just can't help remember what happened the last time we hired a guy w/o HC experience.
 

Spoofin said:
I would give Claeys the job - to give us the best chance of keeping the current recruiting class and as much continuity with Kill's path as possible. However, I do wonder a little about the fact he has never been a HC before. As Glenn Mason stated, "tough to cut your teeth at a B1G school." Again, I hope he gets it, just can't help remember what happened the last time we hired a guy w/o HC experience.
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I don't know if he will get the job or not but I wouldn't put hiring him in the same class as hiring Brew because Claeys has a long track record as a defensive coordinator and will have spent 5 years in the Big Ten. Brew had never really been above a position coach. I still think it will come down to who they hire as AD. If they stay internal Claeys would have a great shot of getting the job. If they go outside the U it would seem really likely the new guy would want to come in and start fresh as opposed to inheriting the DC from the previous regime as his head coach.
 

MNVCGUY said:
I don't know if he will get the job or not but I wouldn't put hiring him in the same class as hiring Brew because Claeys has a long track record as a defensive coordinator and will have spent 5 years in the Big Ten. Brew had never really been above a position coach. I still think it will come down to who they hire as AD. If they stay internal Claeys would have a great shot of getting the job. If they go outside the U it would seem really likely the new guy would want to come in and start fresh as opposed to inheriting the DC from the previous regime as his head coach.
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Agree with all points. Not the same as Brew. Also not the same as having HC experience tho. As I stated, I hope he gets it. I don't doubt he can be successful, but will have a harder time recruiting than Kill did and that will make it even tougher. Tough situation all around. I like Claeys. I also liked the style we played when he was interim coach in 2013. Tough situation here. It is kinda a hot mess right now all around with this and the AD situations. Go Gophers.
 



MrC said:
Are the Reusse bashers up to the considerable challenge of finding something to get upset about in this article?
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I gave up on him a long time ago and quit reading him altogether.
 

Unregistered User said:
"...the latest guy to win a bunch of games at Memphis or Temple."

Uhm...16th ranked Memphis and 21st ranked Temple? Winning a bunch of games at Memphis or Temple? Yeah...I'd take that.
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We'll know more about these G5 trendy schools down the stretch starting this weekend with Temple vs ND. Memphis' schedule looks tough after the Tulane game. Only one win against a currently ranked opponent combined btw.
 

You have to make your mind up with Claeys and staff immediately following the season. Giving the staff 1-2 years to assess their job would set the program back for another 7 years. Does anyone honestly think a recruit would come here in the next 1-2 years if the coaches are 50/50 on if they would be here after their trial period?

I also agree with Pat. There is always some hotshot young and comer that will win a bunch of games at a school like Memphis or Toledo. Those guys are flashes in the pan. Boeckman at Illinois, Hoke at Michigan, Golden at Miami, Edsall at Maryland, etc. They all came from smaller schools and the thought was if they won with the little bit of resources they had at their previous school, what could they do at this big-time school? I'm sure someone can find coaches who won at smaller schools and have been successful at larger schools, but I think I prefer coaches who have won at every step of the way. Kill was an example of that, Brian Kelly at Notre Dame worked his way up that way, etc.
 

Keeping Claeys keeps this staff together and keeps continuity to the program for recruiting, and continuity of what has been taught and will be taught for offense and defense. You don't go outside at this point without giving Claeys at least 2 more years to show that he can/can't keep the brick by brick progress going.

For all gopher fans hoping that the next Harbaugh is out there waiting for this job. If you made a list of the top 20 coaching candidates out there, the top 5 wouldn't even come to interview, the next 5 would only use the U of M to help negotiate their contract somewhere else, Claeys would be in the group of the next ten and would be the one least likely to be using success here as a stepping stone somewhere else.
 

It is important that Patrick make a mental note of this article and his position at this time...

Like him or not, when no one else wanted the job, coach Kill came in and set motion in the right direction, in multiple facets. Football, classroom, recruiting, attitude, pride, facililties, atmosphere, and in reality, there is no arguing these facts.

A large part of this improvement was due to a loyal and competent staff, of which coach Claeys is a major cog.

If anything, the program needs the stability that this staff offers.

I hated Pat's "Country Jer" moniker, as I take it as condescending... I kink of like "Big Country", as long as coach Claeys is OK with it.
 

Unregistered User said:
"...the latest guy to win a bunch of games at Memphis or Temple."

Uhm...16th ranked Memphis and 21st ranked Temple? Winning a bunch of games at Memphis or Temple? Yeah...I'd take that.
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Exactly. I'm fine with giving Claeys a shot, but dismissing what those coaches have done at those programs is ridiculous. Temple destroyed Penn State this year and Memphis beat Ole Miss. Temple sacked Hackenberg 10 times in their game. That's 10 games worth of sacks for us.
 


MNfootballfan said:
You have to make your mind up with Claeys and staff immediately following the season. Giving the staff 1-2 years to assess their job would set the program back for another 7 years. Does anyone honestly think a recruit would come here in the next 1-2 years if the coaches are 50/50 on if they would be here after their trial period?

I also agree with Pat. There is always some hotshot young and comer that will win a bunch of games at a school like Memphis or Toledo. Those guys are flashes in the pan. Boeckman at Illinois, Hoke at Michigan, Golden at Miami, Edsall at Maryland, etc. They all came from smaller schools and the thought was if they won with the little bit of resources they had at their previous school, what could they do at this big-time school? I'm sure someone can find coaches who won at smaller schools and have been successful at larger schools, but I think I prefer coaches who have won at every step of the way. Kill was an example of that, Brian Kelly at Notre Dame worked his way up that way, etc.
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I was going to say the same thing. I'd really question how closely someone follows college sports if they suggest keeping them around for a year or 2 to see how they do. I'd rather they get rid of the entire staff right now than do that. For the record, I hope Claeys gets the job full time.

My biggest concern right now is that we are going to wait for the investigation to be completed before hiring a full time AD and then hire a football coach. Those things take time and we need a decision by January at the latest or we'll be in a tough spot with recruits. Unless Kaler is leaning towards keeping Goetz, it could be months before an AD is actually working.
 


I don't know if Claeys is the best guy to follow Kill. But, due to the unique circumstances we're in, naming him the permanent replacement as soon as possible is probably the best option.

First, as others have mentioned, you can't give him the job for one or two years. That's essentially an interim job and brings recruiting to a halt during that time. You either give him the job or not.

And who is the person to do that? We have no AD, and there's no reason to assume we'll have one anytime soon. We'll have a difficult time recruiting the best coaches available even at full strength. With no AD, it's almost impossible.

Finally, if a full search is done and you're comparing Claeys to the rest of the field, how does he stack up? The strongest point in his favor is that he provides continuity. Just like all coordinators making the next step, someone will have to decide if he's got what it takes. He's been around Bierman for five years; they alread have that opinion, whether it's positive or negative.

If Kaler and Goetz think he's not the guy, then by all means wait. But if they do think he can get it done, make it permanent today. Keep the recruting class in tact. If he doesn't do the job, the new AD will come in and fire him in two or three years anyway. But waiting two months to do what they could do today only keeps the program in limbo.
 

MrC said:
Are the Reusse bashers up to the considerable challenge of finding something to get upset about in this article?
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Sure, the prick can't help but remind everyone he coined "Country Jer" like it's the greatest nickname anyone came up with since they decided to call Thomas Jackson "Stonewall." It's about being noticed for him above everything else. Tremendous self-worth issues.

Also, the prick is spinning a new narrative now. He coined "Country Jer" in a column where he basically called Kill out as a phony. There was a typical nasty tone to it. Not I really like Jerry way down deep.

See, not that hard where that prick is concerned.
 

I haven't often agreed with Ruesse, but on this one I do. I'd offer Claeys a five year contract with a modest buyout soon. In the first place, I think he has demonstrated that he is ready to become a HC. Second, it would maintain program stability. Third, it would permit a more deliberate consideration of how to fill the AD position. Four, it would preserve the opportunity for the incoming AD to chose his own person, but hopefully, by the time a new AD is in place, Claeys would have proven that he is the right person for the job.
 

Mulligan said:
Sure, the prick can't help but remind everyone he coined "Country Jer" like it's the greatest nickname anyone came up with since they decided to call Thomas Jackson "Stonewall." It's about being noticed for him above everything else. Tremendous self-worth issues.
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Well said!
 


vagopher said:
I haven't often agreed with Ruesse, but on this one I do. I'd offer Claeys a five year contract with a modest buyout soon. In the first place, I think he has demonstrated that he is ready to become a HC. Second, it would maintain program stability. Third, it would permit a more deliberate consideration of how to fill the AD position. Four, it would preserve the opportunity for the incoming AD to chose his own person, but hopefully, by the time a new AD is in place, Claeys would have proven that he is the right person for the job.
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I agree with all of those things. On the other hand, there is the question of what is Claeys' potential? The program now has a chance to take a risk on someone who may have higher upside. I don't know the answer.
 

MrC said:
Are the Reusse bashers up to the considerable challenge of finding something to get upset about in this article?
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Yes. "Big Country" is a stupid nickname idea.
 

Cassius Clayes is much better!

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